With CAFTA-DR completed and the Caribbean Single Market (CSM) in place, the Annual Miami Conference will allow for frank assessments of whether these agreements have and will truly result in economic growth and employment for the region. The conference, scheduled for December 4 through 6 in the city of Miami, will focus special attention on energy and its impact on competitiveness and the impact of recent U.S. legislation, including the Western Hemisphere Passport Initiative on the region.

Ten companies have expressed interest in the 23-year Punta Arenas Free Trade Zone concession. The current concession of Parenzon Chile Ltd expires February 2007, reports Punta Arenas´ La Prensa Austral local newspaper. Apparently besides the current concessionaire and the Otway Society, both well known investors in Magallanes Region, the bidding conditions have been acquired by Edelmag S.A.; Zona Franca de Iquique S.A. (Zofri); Agencias universales S.A. (Agunsa); Larraín Vial Servicios Profesionales Limitada; Centro Electrónico Limitada; Comercio e Inmobiliaria ENE S.A.; Administración, Gestión y Servicios Austral; Sociedad Rentas Inmobiliarias; y Distribución y Servicio D&S S.A.

The Kuoni Group increased its first-half turnover by a substantial 11.2 percent in 2006, from the CHF 1,577 million of January-to-June 2005 to CHF 1,753 million. Organic growth added 10.3 percent to first-half turnover and currency movements raised it by 1.0 percent, while acquisitions and divestments2 had a neutral net effect. Turnover was increased year-on-year in all the Group´s business units. Gross profit rose 9.4 percent from CHF 339.7 million to CHF 371.6 million on the strength of the higher turnover volume.

EasyJet has tied up with AirPlus to propel business travel management efficiency. The airline says it is now possible for business flights booked on the easyJet website to be paid for using the AirPlus Company Account. The agreement is the first time that easyJet flights can be booked by business travelers using a UATP lodged card online, inclusive of the benefits of high quality management information, which over 30,000 companies have come to expect from the AirPlus product range.

Online travel services company Expedia Inc. is set to tap the corporate bond market for the first time this week. Last week, the company had announced that it plans to privately offer up to $800 million of senior unsecured notes guaranteed by certain of its subsidiaries.

People working in the professional services sector in Commonwealth Caribbean countries will get an opportunity to enhance their ability to increase trade in professional services when the “Strategic Program for the Promotion of Professional Services” Project is implemented in Dominica. The Project, coordinated and funded by the Commonwealth Secretariat in collaboration with the Barbados-based Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export), was unveiled at the Garraway Hotel in Roseau on July 14.